Kate McKinnon will portray Aphrodite in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

      One of the most renowned Olympian deities will be introduced in the upcoming third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. According to Variety, Disney has cast Kate McKinnon (Barbie) in the role of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

      The third season, which is currently being filmed in Vancouver, is adapted from the third book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, titled The Titan’s Curse. McKinnon will play a recurring role as Aphrodite, providing her selective assistance to Percy and his companions as they try to prevent the malevolent Kronos from escaping his confinement.

      In her portrayal of the goddess, McKinnon’s version of Aphrodite “can change her appearance based on who is looking at her” and “needs to ensure that Percy Jackson acknowledges the significance and power of love before she agrees to assist him on his quest.” In both the books and Greek mythology, Aphrodite is often depicted as the most beautiful goddess and is indirectly responsible for igniting the Trojan War through her cunning and manipulative strategies.

      Percy Jackson and the Olympians was developed by Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, with the latter serving as the showrunner alongside Dan Shotz. Steinberg and Shotz are co-executive producers, along with Riordan and his wife, Rebecca Riordan.

      While production for season three is underway, fans won't have to wait long for the second season’s debut on December 10th. Based on The Sea of Monsters, Percy and his friends embark on a perilous journey across the treacherous Sea of Monsters to retrieve the legendary Golden Fleece to save Camp Half-Blood.

      Upon returning to Camp Half-Blood a year later, Percy discovers turmoil: his friendship with Annabeth is evolving, he finds out he has a cyclops brother, Grover has disappeared, and the camp is threatened by Kronos’s forces. Percy’s quest to restore order will lead him off the map and into the perilous Sea of Monsters, where a hidden fate awaits the son of Poseidon.

      Percy Jackson and the Olympians features Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue, Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan, Virginia Kull as Sally Jackson, Glynn Turman as Chiron, and Toby Stephens as Poseidon. Season two will also welcome new cast members Daniel Diemer, Timothy Simons, Tamara Smart, Sandra Bernhard, Kristen Schaal, Margaret Cho, and Andra Day, with Courtney B. Vance stepping into the role of Zeus following Lance Reddick’s passing.

      The second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to premiere on December 10th.

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for more updates on movies and geek culture.